[Shan Radcliffe] Today's publication is our last medical newsletter for 2011, but we will be back in your inbox from Monday, 9 January 2012. read more
[Rod Baker] Today's newsletters are our last medical newsletters for 2009, and we will be sending out the first of our 2010 newsletters on 11 January 2010.
Until then, to all our subscribers, clients, contributors, business partners and visitors to our sites, may you all have a restful, peaceful, safe and enjoyable year-end break [add your own message to our Festive Tribute 2009 page!]. read more
[Bridget Farham] Today, Barak Obama should reverse George Bush's decision to prevent research into embyronic stem cells that originated after 9 August, 2001. This is good news for all those suffering from spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease and many other conditions, including diabetes of both types. read more
[Bridget Farham] One of this morning's news items reports on research that suggests that unhappy children grow into unhealthy adults. There is a strong psychological component to illness, but one wonders which comes first in this case. read more
[Bridget Farham] There are three items in this morning's newsletter that point to the idea that we can have control over our health. A recent report from the UK suggests that lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking too much, too little exercise and poor eating habits markedly increase your risk of stroke, the changing types of breast cancer and the idea that abused children experience brain changes that result in difficulties handling stress in later life.
The first item shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone who keeps up with the medical literature. read more
[Bridget Farham] One of the articles in today's newsletter reports on the problems that women in East Timor have in obtaining a safe, legal abortion. The laws in East Timor make abortion a difficult - and so unsafe - option for women. read more
[Bridget Farham] We recently had to take my father-in-law to hospital. He is in his mid-80s and has what is effectively terminal ischaemic heart disease. read more
[Bridget Farham] This weeked I had to take my elderly father through to the emergency unit of a local private hospital. Fortunately they were not busy and he was seen promptly. read more
[Bridget Farham] One of today's articles tells us the someone dies of rabies in Africa every 20 minutes - usually a child. Down here, on the toe of the continent, this figure is almost unbelievable. read more
[Bridget Farham] Let's start the week on a cheerful note. One of today's articles shows that if you marinate steak in red wine or beer you reduce its carcinogenic potential - what good news! In this land of red meat and braaivleis yet another use for red wine and beer can only be welcome.
Consuming regular braai meat is associated with an increase in stomach cancer - something that seems relatively prevalent in the South African community. read more
[Bridget Farham] As we enter 2009 we can look forward to much change - both internationally and locally.
President Elect Barak Obama takes office on Tuesday next week - and his presidency will hopefully see the end of the anti-science approach of the Bush administration. For medical science this should mean that stem cell research will once again be adequately funded. read more
[Bridget Farham] December is the month of year-end parties, general festivities and often - major overindulgence. At this time of the year the police are particularly diligent about road blocks and frequently increase the haul of impaired drivers as a result.
But, impaired driving on South African roads is not just something that happens around the end of the year. read more
[Bridget Farham] Today is World AIDS Day. Today, and for the rest of this month, the media will highlight one of the worst pandeimics that the world has seen. read more
[Bridget Farham] I received an email this week from someone who has been involved in the refugee camps that were set up to deal with the recent xenophobia crisis in South Africa. The camps are now closing, but that doesn't mean that the problem has gone away. read more
[Bridget Farham] In today's newsletter there is an item that suggests that actually listening to patients and them examining them carefully may provide more information on the condition of their cardiovascular systems that putting them on a treadmill and looking at their ECG. The study showed that the predictive value of the exercise stress test - in the participants in the study - was no better than a good history and examination. read more
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